The Bundeskartellamt's fifth Market Power Report examines the competition conditions in electricity generation and sales from May 2023 to April 2024, emphasizing the structural market power in the sector. RWE, as the leading supplier, remains crucial in meeting electricity demand, with concerns about its potential to increase market prices.

The market saw a decline in demand, increased electricity imports, and reactivation of coal-fired plants to stabilize prices amid geopolitical events. The reliance on foreign power plant capacities to limit domestic producers' market power has grown.

Post-reporting period, a rise in market power of leading producers is expected due to plant closures and economic recovery. The report anticipates a resurgence in the indispensability of key producers like RWE, LEAG, and EnBW, potentially leading to increased market tension.

The report highlights the importance of assessing a supplier's indispensability rather than market shares in the electricity sector, especially during high-demand periods. The ability to predict and control electricity prices during crucial hours indicates potential market power abuse.

The analysis also delves into the supply of balancing energy, noting the dominance of pump storage plants and EnBW in providing essential ancillary services. The Bundeskartellamt plans to release the next report earlier than the mandated two-year interval due to ongoing market changes.